McIDAS-X Learning Guide
Version 2020

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GUI - Plotting and Looping Grids

In this exercise, you will display and compare grids from two different models, and then display a loop of grids.

Displaying Grid Data over an Image

1. Display the previous day's 48 hour 700 mb relative humidity forecast from the 12:00 UTC GFS model run in green over the current GOES-East image.

   Select:  Display/Grid
   Select:  Dataset/RTGRIDS/GFS

   If the RTGRIDS/GFS dataset contains too many grids to sort, a day and time modification box will pop up for you to narrow the search and try again.

   Enter:   yesterday's Julian day - if needed in modification box or in Date field
   Select:  Time/12 - if needed in modification box
   Click:   OK - if needed in modification box
   Select:  Parameter/RH
   Select:  Level/700 MB
   Click:   the 48 hour forecast (Fhour = 048)
   Click:   the Options tab Select:  Contour Color/Green Click:   Load Grid(s)

2. Load the same or similar data from the NAM model run in a different color and compare the results between the two models.

   Select:  Contour Color/a different color of your choice
   Click:   the Data tab
   Select:  Dataset/RTGRIDS/NAM
   Select:  Parameter/RH
   Select:  Level/700 MB
   Select:  Date/yesterday
   Select:  the 12:00 UTC 48 hour forecast
   Click:   Load and Dismiss

Displaying and Looping Grid Data on a map

1. Erase the images and graphics on frames 1-6.

   Click:   Erase Image
   Click:   Erase Graphics
   Click:   Advance Frame
   Repeat process until all frames have been erased.

2. Select a MSL pressure forecast from yesterday's 12Z NAM model run to be displayed on frame 5.

   Select:  Display/Grid
   Select:  Select Frame/ALL FRAMES/5
   Select:  Dataset/RTGRIDS/NAM
   Select:  Projection/LAMB
   Select:  Parameter/P
   Select:  Level/MSL
   Select:  Date/yesterday
   Click:   a forecast grid to display from the list

3. Display the grid over the United States.

   Click:   the Options tab
   Select:  Map Boundaries/USA
   Click:   Load Grid(s)

4. Display the same grid, but this time as part of a loop in frames 1-3.

   Click:   the Data tab
   Select:  Select Frame/Satellites/1
   Select:  choose three grids in the list with different Fhours by clicking the first grid and holding the ctrl button down while clicking the next two grids chosen
   Click:   Load and Dismiss

5. Loop the grids to see the movement of any weather systems.

   Click:   Play

6. When done viewing the grids, stop the loop.

   Click:   Stop

7. Erase the images and graphics on frames 1-6.

   Select:  Show Frame/ALL FRAMES/1
   Click:   Erase Graphics
   Click:   Advance Frame
   Repeat process until all frames have been erased.

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